He walked for only an hour, most of the time with his sword drawn and a constant influx of aurym feeding it, using it as a torch. He might have pressed on through the night, but Kallorn had marched him in circles for the better part of a day. As it stood, he needed to rest, and now was as good a time as any.

Having Ahlund around had spoiled Justin; he wasn't used to having to make a fire himself. He used his hatchet to strip the bark from some branches, then piled them and struck the ...